BLAZERS DUMP TBIRDS 7-1 ON HOME ICE

The Blazers had one of the hottest starts in recent memory as they cruised to a 7-1 victory. The Blazers started quick as JC Lipon scored 19 seconds into the game set up on a great play by his linemates Colin Smith and Tim Bozon. Chase Schaber made it 2-0 only 13 seconds later. Seattle took a timeout with the Blazers scoring twice in the first 32 seconds of the hockey game. The timeout did not slow down the Blazers as Colin Smith scored a short handed marker set up by Brendan Ranford on a breakaway for a 3-0 lead. Ranford got on the board shortly after as the Blazers were up 4-0 only 6:02 into the game and goaltender Calvin Pickard was given the lift in goal. To finish the period, defenseman Bronson Maschmeyer continued his hot hand getting a power play marker and the Blazers took a 5-0 lead into the intermission.

The second period was much different then the first. The Blazers did not continue their rapid scoring pace. The only goal of the period came from Dave Sutter of the Thunderbirds at the end of a power play. The Blazers outshot the Thunderbirds 8-5 in the period and led 5-1 going into the third.

Any chance at a comeback for the Thunderbirds was stopped early as JC Lipon scored his second goal of the game and Dylan Willick hit the 20-goal plateau to give the Blazers a 7-1 home ice victory. Goaltender Cole Cheveldave had the win in goal with 23 saves while Calvin Pickard took the loss stopping only 5 of 9 shots. Daniel Cotton came in in relief and turned aside 16 of 19 shots. The Blazers were 1-for-6 on the power play and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.

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